Brown up for Wade Trophy

Kalani Brown is one of 33 players included on the midseason watch list for the 2018 Wade Trophy. The Baylor junior is also included on the 2018 John R. Wooden Award Wendy’s Late Season 20 list, is one of 10 finalists for the Lisa Leslie Award and is in consideration for the 2018 Citizen Trophy.

Brown leads the nation in field goal percentage (67.1) and the Lady Bears in scoring (20.2) through 23 games this season. She has recorded a team-high 11 double-doubles this season, which is good for second in the Big 12. The 6-7 center, and 2018 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, has scored more than 30 points twice this season in addition to racking up 12 20-point performances. Brown has recorded double-digit rebound totals in 11 contest.

The Wade Trophy — now in its 41st year — is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women’s basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I National Player of the Year since 2001.

The WBCA will announce the four finalists for the honor in mid-March. The winner of the 2018 Wade Trophy will be announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four national semifinal games on March 30.

Baylor A&T’s Adams nabs national award

Baylor acrobatics and tumbling’s Kaylee Adams was named the NCATA Specialist of the Week, the organization announced Thursday.

The China Spring product averaged a 9.77 over five heats in Baylor’s season-opening win over Alderson Broaddus. She competed in the seven-element acro, inversion pyramid and synchronized pyramid events.

The Specialist of the Week honor recognizes an athlete who demonstrated great ability in one or more heats by a top, base or tumbler.

2 BU signees named Naismith semifinalists

Lady Bear basketball signees Aquira DeCosta and NaLyssa Smith are semifinalists for the 2018 Naismith National Girls’ High School Player of the Year award. Baylor is one of three teams to have two players included on the list.

DeCosta (Sacramento, Calif.) and Smith (Converse, Texas) have also been recognized as McDonald’s All-Americans and named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Girls Basketball Watch List this year.

Only candidates listed on the semifinal list will be eligible to earn national finalist status, which will be announced on Feb. 19. The Naismith High School All-America team will be announced on March 5, and the 2018 Naismith National Girls’ High School Player of the Year will be unveiled on March 7.

Baylor track set to compete at two meets

Baylor track and field will look to divide and conquer, as some of the team will compete at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., while others will travel to the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa.

A total of 40 BU athletes (21 men, 19 women) are slated to compete in Arkansas, which begins with the start of field events at 1 p.m. Central on Friday. A field of 32 teams will compete, including the No. 1-ranked and host Arkansas women.

Meanwhile, 11 athletes, led by eight women, will compete at the Iowa State meet beginning Friday.

Last week, Baylor won five event titles at the Power Five Invitational in Michigan, led by Taylor Bennett’s double gold in the 60 and 200.

MCC athletes honored for their play

The North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference named Jashawn Talton as its men’s basketball player of the week for the second week in a row. Talton, McLennan Community College’s forward, scored 34 points in two games. He made two-thirds of his shots from the field against Temple and 71.4 percent against Hill. He shot 50 percent from the 3-point line in the two games.

MCC baseball’s Chase Sortor was named conference position player of the week for games played Jan. 29-Feb. 4. The Highlander outfielder hit three doubles, two home runs and had seven RBIs while scoring six runs himself, while hitting .352.

MCC’s Shane Daughety was also named pitcher of the week for the same period. He picked up two wins without allowing a run. Pitching six innings for the games, he struck out seven and didn’t allow any walks.

Highlassies to host after schedule change

“Scramble” is the word of the day for the McLennan Community College softball team.

With questionable weather probable in the Houston area, San Jacinto College canceled its softball tournament. As a result, The Highlassies have picked up a couple of doubleheaders this weekend. The team will host Blinn Friday at 1 p.m. and San Jacinto for a Saturday doubleheader, also beginning at 1 p.m. The games will be played at the Bosque River Ballpark.

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Lauren Cox was on fire. Whether it be from her favorite spot at the top of the key for the 3-ball, or inside the paint with the occasional put-back bucket off an offensive rebound, the Baylor sophomore seemed unstoppable.